Loading trail…
Mississippi · Fishing
Mississippi punches well above its weight as a fishing state. With 97 active listings spread across the Delta, the Gulf Coast fringe, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway corridor, and the hill country in between, there is enough variety here to keep an angler busy for years.
99 spots9 townsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 99 spots
Mississippi punches well above its weight as a fishing state. With 97 active listings spread across the Delta, the Gulf Coast fringe, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway corridor, and the hill country in between, there is enough variety here to keep an angler busy for years. Grenada Lake near Grenada sits at 238 feet elevation and is one of the most productive crappie and largemouth bass reservoirs in the state, drawing serious anglers from across the Southeast. The oxbow lakes of the Delta — Moon Lake near Dundee, Eagle Lake near Vicksburg, Lake Washington near Glen Allan, and Tennessee Lake near Rolling Fork — hold largemouth bass and catfish in the kind of slow, timber-rich water that rewards patience and a well-placed jig. River anglers have solid access points too, including South Abutment Campground on the Coldwater River and Dub Patton Campground near Hernando. Up in the northeast corner, Pickwick Lake near Iuka offers a completely different fishery, with deeper, clearer water and species mix that reflects its Tennessee River origins. Whether you are after crappie slabs in a reservoir, channel catfish on a river bank, or bass in a cypress-lined oxbow, Mississippi has a realistic option within a few hours of almost anywhere in the state.
Largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill are the most consistently available species across the state's lakes and reservoirs, with Grenada Lake being a well-documented producer of all four. The Delta oxbows like Moon Lake and Eagle Lake are particularly known for bass and catfish. Pickwick Lake near Iuka adds a different dimension with its Tennessee River species mix, including striped bass and sauger alongside the usual warmwater fish.
Spring (March through May) is the most productive window for bass and crappie, as both species move shallow to spawn and are easier to locate and catch. Fall (September through November) is a close second, especially for crappie on reservoirs like Grenada Lake. Summer fishing is entirely doable but most anglers shift to early morning or after sunset to avoid the heat and find fish that have moved deeper.
Choctaw Lake
~59 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Upper Lake
~36 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Carpenter Lake
~41 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Long Lake
~52 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Brush Lake
~56 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Horseshoe Lake
~56 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Durden Lake
~1h drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Greenwood Sewage Lagoon
~1h 6m drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Horseshoe Lake
~1h 18m drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Flat Lake
~1h 22m drive
A worthwhile stop near MS.
Also worth it near here
Lake fishing
Abbeville, MS
Lake fishing
Fayette, MS
reservoirLake fishing
Hernando, MS
crappie, largemouth bass
Lake fishing
Pascagoula, MS
River fishing
Morton, MS
Lake fishing
Moss Point, MS
Lake fishing
Pascagoula, MS
riverRiver fishing
Tylertown, MS
largemouth bass, bluegill
Lake fishing
Glendora, MS
Lake fishing
Vicksburg, MS
Lake fishing
Carthage, MS
Lake fishing
Carrollton, MS
Lake fishing
Lucedale, MS
Lake fishing
Houlka, MS
Lake fishing
Brookhaven, MS
Lake fishing
Soso, MS
Lake fishing
Columbus, MS
Lake fishing
Redwood, MS
Lake fishing
Lucedale, MS
Lake fishing
Alligator, MS
River fishing
Columbus, MS
River fishing
Hernando, MS
Lake fishing
Sidon, MS
Lake fishing
Vicksburg, MS
Yes, a valid Mississippi fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older fishing public waters. Licenses are available through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks website, at most sporting goods retailers, and at many bait shops near popular access points. If you are fishing on a reservoir managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, such as Grenada Lake, the same state license applies.
Several listings combine camping and fishing in one spot. South Abutment Campground near Coldwater and Dub Patton Campground near Hernando both offer river fishing access, while Jamie L. Whitten Campground near Fulton sits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. These are practical bases if you want to fish multiple sessions over a weekend without driving back and forth.
Most of the lake and reservoir fishing in Mississippi is rated easy in terms of access and technique, including Grenada Lake. The Delta oxbows and flatwater lakes are calm, boat-friendly, and forgiving for beginners. River fishing at spots like Chickasaw Hill near Oakland or the Coldwater River access points requires a bit more awareness of current and water levels, but nothing that demands advanced experience.
